Reflecting sign



March 3, 1931. w. K. c. BEERSTECHER 1,795,071

REFLECTING SIGN Filed July 2. 1929 nNvENToR;

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 3, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE nnFtEc'rING SIGN Application led July 2, 1929. Serial No. 375,466.

This invention relates to a reflecting sign for advertising or publication purposes, set with or composed of faceted reflector elements of glass or other light `refracting material.

The main object of the invention is to form and arrange the faceted reflector elements in such a way that the light, falling upon and through the elements is refracted and dispersed and the sign is conspicuously and effectively displaye A further object is to form the base of the elements and the fastening means in such a way, that the elements may be placed side by side in abutting relation so that the underside of every. letter or part of the sign constitutes apart of a single closed plane without any gap. This intensifies considerably the brilliancy of the sign. l

Still further objects of the invention are to provide suitable reflectors for throwing the light in the most desirable way upon the parts of the sign, supports for these reflectors and for the faceted reflector elements.

To the accomplishment of these and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction and arrangements herein specifically described, and illustrated in the accompanying 30 drawing wherein is shown an embodiment thereof, but it is to be understood that the device shown is merely illustrative of what is now thought to be the best embodiment thereof, and that various changes in theform, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, Without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention, which come within the scope of the claims hereunto o appended.

In the drawing forming a portion of this specication and wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure l is a plan view of a reflector element with its fastening means embodying the features of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical elevation of the re- 5o iector elementshown in Fig. 1, the fastening of the letter T.

Figure 5 is a plan view ,of a supporting plate in the form of the letter T, carrying reflector elements and secured on a frame, whereby the letter is surrounded by a source of light thereby, to illuminate the reflector elements.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line VI-VI of Figure 5.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 2 indicates the reflector elements, each of which comprises a solid body of glass or translucent material, thatl is faceted. The body is for instance cut and ground after the manner of a jewel, or cast, and has the form of a truncated pyramid with its top plane covered by a corresponding pyramid, the second pyramid having the same number of side planes but inclined at a smaller angle to the horizontal. The base of the pyramid is a regular polygon (see Figures 1 and 2). In such reflector elements a prismatic effect is obtained by refracting and dispersion of light. The brilliancy may be intensified by coating the back of the body with bright foilor other reflecting material.

A brilliant sign may be produced by placing a number of such reflector elements on a supporting plate 3 and combine them to form letters or other designs, as indicated in Figs. 4 6. In Figs.k 1 and 2 the base of the pyramid has eight sides. When such reflector elements having all the same number .of sides are placed side by side, it is obvious that openings will be formed between the several reflector elements. Thereforeelements with a certain number of sides may be alternated by elements with a different number of sides, so that all the openings are filled and one continnous base plane for the letter or other design is formed. For this reason, in Figs. 4 to 6 the eight-sidedelements are shown placed cruciform in shape as shown in Fig. 3- and provided with a pair of resilient upturned ends or lips 5 adapted to be seated in depressions formed in opposite faces of the ele` ment at its lower edge. The plate 4 carries at its und-erside a centrally disposed screw 7 having an enlarged rectangular head *6 which extends below the plate and is adapted t0 pass through correspondingly shaped openings 8 in the supporting plate 3, and vat the opposite side of this supporting plate a nut 9 is threaded on the screw 7. The nut 9 is provided with iiange's 10 adapt-ed to engage the supporting plate, so that in case said plate is thinner than the head 6 of the screw, that portion of the head which extends beyond the surface of the plate is received by the opening yformed between the flanges of the nut.

A number offv` holes 8 may be regularly spaced over the plate 3 as shown in Fig. so that every letter or design may be formed by placing the required reflector elements with centering means 6 in the holes 8 and fastening them with nuts.

The fastening means might, if preferred, comprise a cylindrical pin, connected at the rear of the back-plate, and covered with a tube of rubber or other resilient material. In this case of course the holes in the supporting plate would also be cylindrical, and the pins, after being placed in the holes, might be held fast by friction. l

By the described fastening ymeans the reflector elements may be securely fastened by anyone, even unskilled persons, in a very short time. The reflector elements being removable, letters or other designs of any de- .sired form can be produced in'a minimum of time.

The back plate 4 shown'in the drawing has only two arms provided 'with projections 5. Of' course it is possible to provide the other two or more arms with similar projecting lips, but in general two lips 5 are sufficient.

The element 2v is thus elastically held, sincethe whole back plate 4 is made of a resilient material.

The lips 5 are fitted into the depressions of the element 2 so that their outer surfaces are flush with the faces of the element, whereby the elements in forming the letters may be placed side by side, without the formation of ga s, between the sides of the elements.

f necessary the lips 5 may 4have inwardly projecting parts 11, consisting for instance, of lugs as illustrated in Fig. 2. Again, the edges of the lip may converge to a point and be provided with a ball-shaped tipy and' the end of the lip might be bent inwards.

When a refiector element is damaged, another may be substituted therefor on the same back-plate, since, as hereinbefore stated, the lips 5 are resilient and can readily be moved away from the damaged element thereby to permit removal of said element. The lips, when released, return by their resiliency into their old places, clamping fast the new elcment.

The aspect of the sign is made still more brilliant, when reflectors 12 corresponding to the form of the letters or other parts of a del sign, .and lamps 13, for instance tubular lamps surround each letter or part mentioned, so that the light of the lamps 18 is thrown by the reiiectors 12 from all sides of the faceted bodies. l

The light falling in from the side, causes a manifold refraction and a very fine chromatic dispersion.

Such a reflector for the letter T is shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

Especially by night the sign may be illuminat-ed in the manner hereabove described. By day a sufficient effect is obtained by the sun- 4 light.

, Patent is l. A sign, comprising a plurality of solid, light-refracting elements disposed in juxta- 110 position to form a predetermined figure and adapted to catch light'rays falling thereon from a sidewise direction, each of said elements having the form of a truncated pyramid the base of which is a regular polygon and having its base surface coated with a refiecting material, said truncatedl pyramid merging at its truncated surface into a pyramid having the same number of side planes but inclined at a smaller angle to the horizontal, and a plurality of pyramidal elements having a smaller number of side planes so disposed relatively to said first elements that the bases of all the elements form one continuous base surface. l

2. A reflecting sign, comprising a plurality of solid faceted refiector elements each comprising a truncated pyramid the base of which is a regular polygon, the sides of said pyramid merging at its truncated surface 130 into a pyramid the sides of which are inclined at a smaller angle to the horizontal,

said members being assembled with their bases in edge-abutting relation, and 'a plurality of pyramidalmembers having a smaller number of sides disposed in-staggered relation to said first members, each of said members having resilient fastening means for securing it to a suitable support.

3. A reiiecting sign, comprising a plurality of solid faceted reiector elements disposed in contiguous relation to each other and each comprising a truncated pyramid the base of which is a regular polygon, the sides of said pyramid merging at its truncated surface into a pyramid the sides of which are inclined at a smaller angle to the horizontal, each of said elements having a back plate provided with resilient lips projecting into depressions in the faceted element and means carried by said back plate for securing it to a suitable support.v

4. A reflecting sign comprising -a plurality of solid faceted reflector elements disposed in contiguous relation to each other, each of said elements comprising a truncated pyramid the base of which is a regular polygon, the sides of said pyramidmer ing into a pyramid the sides of which are inclined at a smaller angle to the horizontal, each of said elements having a back plate provided with resilient lips rojecting into depressions in the faceted boy, an angular fasteningmember carried at the rear of said back plate and having a rearwardly projecting screw integral therewith, a supporting plate provided with openings each corresponding in shape with said angular member, and a nut threaded on said screw at the rear side of the supporting plate.

5. A reiecting sign, comprising a plurality of solid faceted refiector elements, each comprising a truncated pyramid the base of which is a regular polygon, the sides of said pyramid merging at its truncated surface into a pyramid the sides of which are inclined at a smaller angle to the horizontal, each of said elements having a back plate provided with resilient lips seated in corresponding depressions in the faceted body, an angular fastening member carried by said back plate andI provided with an integral threaded portion and a nut threaded thereon for securing it in contiguous relation with its companion elements to form parts of a predetermined design, and illuminating means encircling each of said parts and so disposed as to reflect the light from the side on to said faceted bodies.

6. A reflecting sign, comprising a plurality of solid faceted reflector elements each prising a truncated pyramid the base of which is a regular polygon, the sides of said pyramid merging at its truncated surface into a pyramid the sides of which are inclined at a smaller angle to the horizontal, each of said elements having a back plate provided with resilient lips seated in depressions in the faceted body and each of said back plates having an angular fastening member provided with an integral threaded portion and a nut threaded thereon for securing the elements side by side on a supporting plate to form the letters of a predetermined sign, illuminating means encircling each of said letters and soV disposed as to reflect the light from the side on to said faceted bodies, the separate supporting plate for each letter being itself in the form of its letter,and means forsupporting a plurality of supporting plates in position to form a sign.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name tothis specification at The Ha e, Province of South Holland, Netherlands, this 20th day of June, 1929.

WILLEM KAREL CORNELIS BEERSTECHER. 

